Trace.



699-9|3i I I Patented May l3, I902.

*- P. m. GUTLEBER.

TRACE.

(Application filed July 13, 1901.)

(No Model.)

THE Nomus PErERs 00., Pno'ro-uywou wgsmncmm u. c.

UNITED STATES,

PATENT EFICE.

PHOENIX M. GUTLEBER, OF LIBERTY CORNER, NEW JERSEY.

TRACE.

SPECIFICATION forming-part of Letters Patent No. 699,918, dated May 13,1902.

Application filed July 13, 1901. Serial No. 68,174. (No model.) i I acitizen of the United States, residing at- Lib-" erty Corner, in thecounty of Somerset and State of New Jersey, have invented a new andusefulTrace, of whichthe following is a specification.

ticularly to draft connectionsfl'and has for its object to ease thefdraft u pon the'shoulders of draft-animals,'thereby to obviate soreshoulders, and also to provide for easing the strain,

particularly when starting a vehicle.

Itis furthermore designed toarrange for independent endwise movement ofthe traces, so as to accommodate for unequal strain thereon, and also toprovide for automatically taking up the slack in either trace which isdue to abnormal strain on the opposite trace.

Another object resides in arranging for the convenient application andremoval of the trace forming the general feature of this invention andto provide for applying the same to form a connection between aharness-collar and a draw-bar or whiffietree without ma teriallyaltering these parts or any other parts of the harness.

With these and other objects in view the present invention consists inthe combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter morefully described, shown in the accompanyingdrawings,andparticularlypointed out in the appended claims, it beingunderstood that changes in the form, propor tion, size, and minordetails maybe made within the scope of the claimswithout departing. fromthe spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings,Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the presentinvention in its applied position. Fig. 2 is a detail perspective viewof a trace embodying my invention. 1

i ec arac ers 0 re er nce i na ecor-. Lkh t ffe desg t V respondingparts in both figures of the-drawlngs. 7

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, there has been illustratedaha'rness collar 1, having the usualhames 2, and it' is the purpose ofthe presentinvention to form an improved draft connection between thecollar and the draw-bar or doubletree 3, which is commonly providedwitha pair of whiffletrees, one of .which has been indicated at 4.

In carrying out the present invention there is provided a pulley-block5, having a suitable snap-hook 6, which is designed to be engaged with asuitable ring orhook '7, carried by the whiffietree, soas to bedetachably con- This invention relates to harness,.a'nd par nected tothe draw-bar. The forward end of this block is provided with a hook 8,to which is connected one end of a trace 9, which may be formed of ropeor other suitable material and is reeved through a guide or pulley block10, car'ried'by the harness-collar, from which guide the trace returnsto and is reeved through the block 5 and then carried forwardly andrigidly connected to the collar. The forward end of the lower traceportion 11 is connected to the collar by means of a strap-and-buckleconnection 12, that is carried by the usual hams-staple 13. or pulleylOhas an elastically-yieldable connection with the collar by means of theopposite coiled or helical springs 14, which have their rear endsconnected to the block, from which they diverge, and have their-forwardends connected to the hame, the lower spring being connected to thestaple 13.

When the draft-animal moves forwardly, a tension is im mediately placeduponeaoh trace, as the part 11 thereof i'sirigidly connected to theharnesscollar, and therefore must move forwardly with the animal; but byreason of the springs 14; the block or pulleylO yields in a rearwarddirection,'wherebya sudden jerk or strain is relieved from the shouldersof the animal, and in view of the fact that the contiguous trace has itsopposite ends fixedly connected to the collar and the draw bar a portionof the draft is applied to the draw-bar, so that the latter movesforwardly simultaneously with the animal, but at aless rate of speed,until the springs let have be- ,come fully stretched, after which themovement of the animal and the draw-bar will be simultaneous. However,should the wheels of the vehicle strike a rut or other obstruction thejar caused thereby will be taken up by the springs 14. 1

From the foregoing descriiptioirit will be seen that the springs affordtin-elasticallyyieldable element to takeup any sudden jerk The guide orstrain, and thereby obviate rubbing of the collar upon the neck of thedraft-animal; This easing action of the springs is particularlyadvantageous in starting a Vehicle, as said springs Will yield under thefirst strain, and thereby apply the draft gradually.

By reason of the endwise movement of the trace, due to the mountingthereof in opposite blocks or guides, and the elastic connection betweenthe doubled portion of the trace and the collar any slack isautomatically taken up, so as to obviate looseness or sagging of thetrace, and thereby maintain the same in a comparatively taut condition.

It will be noted that the present form of trace may be applied withoutaltering or changing the collar, the draw-bar, or any of the parts ofthe harness, and therefore is complete in itself and may be applied totake the place of common traces.

\Vhat I claim is- 1. A draft connection consisting of opposite pulleys,one of which is provided with an elastic fastening, and a flexible tracehaving its intermediate portions reeved through the opposite pulleys,one end of the trace being fixed to the other pulley and the oppositeend of the trace having a fastening for engagement with the part towhich the first-mentioned pulley is to be connected.

2. A draft connection, consisting of opposite pulleys, one of which isprovided with angularly-related spring-fastenings for engagement with aharness-collar, and the other being constructed for connection to adraw-bar, and a flexible trace having its intermediate portions reevedthrough the opposite pulleys, one end of the trace being fixedlyconnected to the said other pulley,and the opposite end of the tracehaving a collar-engaging fastening.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

PHOENIX M. GUTLE BER.

Witnesses:

F. W. SOMERS, F. W. VooRHEEs.

